By Dorothea Shefer-Vanson
MEVASSERET ZION, Israel — The return of our hostages from the abyss of their captivity in Gaza to the exhilarating reunion with their families enabled most Israelis, as well as Jews and supporters everywhere, to share in their happiness. We sat shedding tears of joy as we watched the events on our television screens.
The sight of the returning inhabitants of Gaza to the remnants of their homes must equally have brought some degree of satisfaction to the supporters of those unfortunate people. Likewise, the release of terrorists from Israel’s prisons undoubtedly brought joy to their friends and supporters. The agreement reached under which these events unfolded has created situations of combined joy and anguish in many hearts, and as we console ourselves with the sight of returning hostages reunited with their families, we wonder what kind of future lies ahead for all concerned.
Much of the credit for the agreement must go to US President Trump, the self-declared ‘greatest President America has ever had,’ but also to Israel’s government, which voted in favor of the agreement despite vociferous dissenting voices and even resignations within its ranks.
The agreement is far from perfect, and far from being achieved in full. The declared intent of certain government ministers to create Jewish settlements in Gaza and to resume the war there is still hanging over the resumption of negotiations for the release of additional hostages after the initial phase which concerns only about one third of the hostages.
One of the salient phrases we heard from the hostages who have been released to date is that every effort must be made to release all the remaining hostages. The demonstrations that have been held all over Israel demanding an end to the war and the release of all the hostages are continuing. As a regular participant in these, I am encouraged by hearing the returning hostages speak of the reassurance they received while in captivity from the knowledge that these demonstrations for their return were being held.
When I was on my way to Jerusalem a couple of weeks ago, I was stuck in a traffic jam for over an hour as a result of a demonstration being held to protest against the armistice and hostage-release deal. As I sat in my car, I could see dozens of schoolboys from religious institutions being brought in by bus and furnished with placards protesting the agreement. I wondered what kind of education they were receiving when the Jewish imperative of redeeming captives and caring for our co-religionists was being so blatantly ignored.
I fear for the future of Israel as a liberal democratic society when some of our youngsters are being taught fear and hatred, not only of those who seek to destroy us but also of those within Israel who hold differing political views to theirs.
For better or for worse, the struggle within Israel between those who regard the return of all our hostages as being of paramount importance and those who prefer to see the threat imposed by the release of terrorists as of salient importance continues to overshadow the political and public arena.
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Dorothea Shefer-Vanson is an author and freelance writer based in the Jerusalem suburb of Mevasseret Zion, Israel.